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Overall Gallup Finds 53% Feel Iraq War Not Worth It

According to Gallup's Tuesday Briefing analysis, the amount of Americans who think iraq was "worth going to war over" has drastically diminished. In 3/03, 68% said the war was worth it, "and this sentiment climbed as high as 76% immediately following the fall of Baghdad." After Pres. Bush asked Congress for additional funding, support dropped to 50%. By 1/04, for the first time since the war broke out, less than a majority believed the war was worth it. After a slight rebound in the spring, the support dwindled again in 5/04 after the prisoner abuse scandal. Except for the final boost in 8/04, the support has remained below 50%. In the case of Iraq, there is a racial and generational divide. While white respondents are "ambivalent" -- 50% support and 48% oppose -- non-white respondents are more sure, with 72% saying the war is not worth it compared with 26% who say it was. Similiarly split are both the "oldest and youngest Americans." The majority of 18-29 year olds and Americans 65 and older think it was not worth going to war. Americans between the ages of 30-64 are more evenly split (release, 4/19). The Hotline April 19, 2005 Tuesday